Picture frame



R. J. FABRY PICTURE FRAME March 19, 1957 Filed Jan. 18, 1956 ATTORNEYS United States Patent PICTURE FRAME Robert J. Fabry, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application January 18, 1956, Serial No. 559,960

3 Claims. (Cl. id-456) This invention appertains to picture and like frames of the type in which the picture or other matter to be displayed can be quickly removed and replaced by another picture or the like and is an improvement over my pending application, Serial No. 515,368, filed Tune 14, 1955.

In this co-pending application, I illustrated a frame in which matter to be displayed could be quickly interchanged without the manipulation of latches or the removal of the frame from the wall and the dismantling of the frame. In that construction, I hingedly connected the frame proper to a base plate for receiving the picture therebetween with magnetic means for holding the frame proper in an operative position against accidental swinging movement.

My present invention has for one of its primary objects, a novel arrangement of base plate and frame member, whereby the two parts can be firmly united and properly centered relative to one another against accidental displacement by the sole use of magnetic means, whereby the necessity of employing hinges is dispensed with.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a changeable exhibitory embodying a base plate having an outwardly projecting rim and a frame member having a channel on its inner face for receiving the rim, so that the frame member will be supported thereby, with a novel arrangement of permanent magnets and an armature therefor carried respectively by the base plate and the frame member for holding the plate and frame member in their inter-engaged position against accidental movement.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a novel arrangement of magnetic means for holding the matter to be displayed firmly against the base plate and in proper position to be displayed through the frame member and with the magnetic means completely concealed by the frame.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of my improved picture frame with parts thereof broken away and in section to illustrate structural details;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the frame taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter F generally indicates my improved frame for displaying a picture P or other desired matter.

Any desired picture P of a size and shape corresponding to the frame can be displayed and it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the displaying of pietures alone, as advertising matter, calendar sheets and 2,785,490 Patented Mar. 19, 3957 the like can also be advantageously displayed by the frame.

The frame F includes a base plate 5 formed from any desired dielectric material, such as wood or plastic. Formed on or secured to the front face of the base plate 5 is an outwardly projecting rim 6 and! this rim has in turn formed therein, a groove 7 in its outer face, for a purpose, which will later appear. Secured to the base plate 5 inward of the rim 6' is a continuous flat metal band 8 formed from steel or other metal which is subject to the influence of magnetic attraction. The metal band 8 is preferably imbedded inthe base plate 5 so that the same will extend flush with the outer face of the base plate.

The picture P or other matter to be displayed is cut to a size to fit within the rim 6 flat against the base plate 5 after which a pluralityofpermanent magnets 9- are placed against the picture P at space points and the same will be attracted to the metal band 8 and thus firmly hold the picture in place. The magnets 9 are placed close against the inner face of the rim 6', for a purpose, which will also later appear.

In conjunction with the base plate 5, 1i utilize an open frame member 10, which is preferably formed and doe orated to present an attractive and pleasing appearance to the eye. The inner face of the frame is provided with a channel 11 which extends entirely about the frame and the channel defines an outer wall 12 and an inner inwardly extending flange 13. This flange i3 is in the nature of a shadow box to enhance the display of the picture. The outer wall 12 is of a greater width than the flange 13 and extends rearwardly of the flange and is of a size to more or less snugly encompass the rim 6. The inner face of the wall 12 preferably terminates flush with the inner face of the base plate 5. The flange l3 terminates just short of the inner face of the base plate 5 and the picture P carried thereby.

Rigidly secured to the inner face of the wall 12 is a metal band 14 having magnetic properties and rigidly secured in the groove 7 at spaced points are permanent magnets 15 for cooperation with the band 14. In actual practice, it has been found that magnets 15 need only be utilized around the top of the base plate and the magnets attract the band 14 and detachably hold the frame member F on the rim 6, when the rim is housed within the channel 11. The band 14 extends entirely around the frame member 10 so that the location of the band relative to the magnets is unnecessary.

In the drawings, I have shown the frame of a circular form, but it is to be understood that the frame can be made in other shapes, such as square or rectangular.

In use of my frame, the picture or other matter to be displayed is placed on the base plate 5 and held by the magnets 9 as heretofore described after which the lower part of the frame is placed over the lower part of the rim 6 and the frame is then bodily moved over the rim and the magnets 15 attracting the band 14 will function to center the frame member 10 relative to the base plate and hold the frame member thereon against accidental movement.

The base plate 5 can be secured to a wall or support in any desired way, and the same can be permanently secured in place, should such be desired, in view of the fact that it is merely necessary to remove the frame member 10 when it is decided to change the matter to be displayed.

Various changes in detail may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this; invent-ion but what I claim as new is:

1. A picture or like frame comprising a base plate having an outwardly projecting rim on its marginal edge,

a sheet of material to be displayed placed within said rim flat against the base plate, means removably securing the sheet of material against the base plate, said rim having a groove thereabout on its outer face, and an open frame member having a channel on its inner face for receiving the rim, permanent magnets secured at spaced points in the groove, and a metal band carried by the inner face of said channel adapted to be attracted by the permanent magnets for holding the frame member on the rim against accidental displacement.

2. A picture or like frame comprising a base plate having an outwardly projecting rim adjacent to its marginal edge, a metal band having magnetic properties imbedded in the inner face of said base plate in close proximity to the rim, a sheet of material to be displayed placed within said rim and flat against the base plate and against said metal band, permanent magnets placed at spaced points against the sheet and in close proximity to the rim and attracted by the metal band for holding the sheet in place, and a frame member having a channel on its inner face defining an outer wall and an inwardly projecting flange, said frame member removable bodily on and 01f said rim, said flange being adapted to project inwardly toward the sheet when the frame member is on the rim, and means for detachably securing the frame member on 4 the rim, the channel forming means for housing and concealing the permanent magnets.

3. A picture or like frame comprising a base plate having an outwardly projecting rim, the outer face of said rim having a groove, a metal band having magnetic properties imbedded in the front face of the base plate in close proximity to the rim, a sheet of material to be displayed placed within said rim against the base plate and the metal band, spaced permanent magnets placed against the sheet and adjacent to the rim and said metal band, and an open frame member having a marginal channel on its inner face for receiving the rim freely movable on and off said rim, a metal band having magnetic properties carried by the frame member and disposed Within the channel, and permanent magnets secured in said groove at spaced points for attracting said last named metal band for holding the frame member on the rim against accidental displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

